Unearthing Art

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---This is the final episode of the Unearthing Art Podcast for the foreseeable future BUT Bec and Michele are excited about what's coming next. They chat about honestly assessing your creative projects and the signs of when it might be time to let go of what feels routine to welcome in something new.---It's been a wonderful experience having these conversations with you, our Unearthing Art listeners—we hope you stay in touch via the links below and that we connect with you again very soon.---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Are you trying to get out of a rut in your art practice, feeling like your studio sessions are producing a bunch of ‘nothing', or disheartened that you are not seeing more progress in your artwork? Yep, Bec and Michele have been there too (quite recently in some cases!), and in this episode they are pulling out all the insights, mind-tricks and approaches that keep them showing up and moving forward. We're all wired differently, so it's about finding the right switch to fire you up, get the creativity flowing and make it fun—whether it's playing the rebel, banning all pressure and expectation from the studio, seeking out surprise, or experimenting with the power of the incremental.Tune in for a creative tune-up!---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---You may have noticed we missed an episode last week and that is because Michele is under the weather and has lost her voice.So today we put together a special episode focussed on the power of your authenticity as an artist. This is something we've talked about from a number of different angles, and we wanted to bring these ideas together—to dig into what we mean when we talk about your authentic self being the foundation for your art making, and also your art business. I hope our conversation can spark some different perspectives and perhaps deeper questions for you to explore:Does my art practice really reflect my unique values and ways of being in the world?Are there parts of me I'm holding back from my art, and why?Is how I show up in the studio in alignment with how I show up to share and sell my work?---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---The last few episodes Bec and Michele have been talking about the practice of failing in the art studio. But what about when the challenges are coming from outside the studio?In the lead up to Michele's recent exhibition, the universe threw a LOT of challenges her way–from unexpected changes to the exhibition itself, to the flu, falling trees and a rat named Garry. How did she fight to achieve her vision? And, perhaps more importantly, how do we judge the times when we want to push through versus when it would serve us better to pull back?This conversation ranges across tenacity and turkey sandwiches–it'll all make sense by the end!---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Bec and Michele are doing a 30 day art challenge, but not the kind of challenge you might see on Instagram… this is about deliberately failing (proper, ugly failing), making bold and risky moves that don't work out, and creating pieces that leave you thinking, ‘well that's definitely not it!'.This episode digs into what this kind of ‘practising failure' looks like on a day to day basis in the art studio, and the multiple layers of enquiry, understanding and possibility it can uncover. Michele talks about important questions to frame the process and how to guide yourself moment-to-moment without getting stuck on the idea of having one vision, one style, one feeling forever.---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Michele is hot off the official opening event of her solo exhibition and she has THOUGHTS to share. OriginArt members and other artist friends came out to support and celebrate at the opening, and being amongst ‘our tribe' highlighted (again) how our way of seeing the world and how we spend our time can seem pretty weird to ‘normal' people.Michele and Bec dig into the practical realities of being an outsider when it comes to the work and path we've chosen to pursue, and what it takes in this primarily solo effort to persist and thrive. One of the big challenges is overturning what we may have learned about failure as something to be avoided. Michele explains how she views failure as not only unavoidable, but an absolutely critical part of a successful creative process. And she dishes on all the ‘sucky' art she made along the way (which is still documented on her phone!).---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Michele's stunning solo art exhibition opened the day of this conversation, and though it will take some time to unpack all the details and lessons of this monumental effort, for now Bec is really interested in the growth she has witnessed in Michele over the last month or so of intense studio focus.Michele talks about how an earlier version of herself would have crumbled under the pressure, but this time she found a way to rise, and rise again, in the face of each challenge and opportunity throughout the experience. What made the difference? A core conviction, backed up by determination and a success-focused mindset, and balanced by a willingness to relinquish control.This is an inspiring and encouraging conversation about what can be possible for each of us.---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---This week Bec has created a special episode–this is an encouragement tonic in audio form and is just the prescription if you are going through one of those times we ALL go through, when we feel uncertain, unsteady or unmotivated around our art. This is a compilation of Bec's favourite Unearthing Art clips to remind you:what it means to be an artistthat it's ok (even inevitable) for things to take longer or turn out differently than we expectthe pleasure of making peace with the creative processways to shift stuck and feel good about showing up for yourselfand more…We hope you find this useful and (just like Bec will be doing!) feel free to play this whenever you need a little encouragement tonic in your art studio.---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---This is a special episode with highlights from Michele's week-long Artist Breakthrough Blueprint event. With more than four hours of teaching, we couldn't include the detailed explanations and practical exercises, but this selection will hopefully give some fresh ideas to consider for your art life. Michele digs into:creating a business that you really (no, REALLY) lovethe most common goals that growth-minded artists aspire towhat are the opportunities for artists now?how important is genre to selling art?what do we need to know about the buyer cycle to make better business decisions?how do breakthroughs accelerate our art and business?how do we use breakthroughs to build a bridge between our now, and where we want to be?the critical decision that successful artists (and businesses) make.If you'd like to make sure you don't miss the next time Michele offers her free Artist Breakthrough Blueprint teaching, jump on the reminder list here.---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Marketing, advertising, branding… these words can send a chill down the spine of many an artist. The idea of self-promotion, or more specifically having to adopt a certain ‘public image' to sell art, feels fake and completely at odds with what you want to bring to the world with your original and expressive work.Michele and Bec have a very different perspective and approach when it comes to branding for artists, and discuss how it can become an enriching part of your process—energising your work and connecting you more deeply with your ideal collectors. In fact, not engaging with your branding is a missed opportunity considering the amazing creative superpower that artists have.As Bec says at the start of the episode, “for any artist who hasn't discovered how creative and rewarding, and how authentic branding can be, THIS is the episode for you…”---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---We're tackling one of those taboo topics today—MONEY. Do you feel like money talk doesn't belong in conversations about art? Does the idea of asking for a higher price for your art make you feel: anxious, greedy, a sell-out or a fraud? And does thinking about art as a luxury purchase somehow reduce its meaningfulness?In typical Unearthing Art style Bec and Michele are digging into the messy and uncomfortable questions.---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Bec's had one of those perspective flipping ‘bing' moments of insight after her trip to Melbourne–the kind of jump forward in clarity that opens up new ways of seeing and doing in the art studio.We all have these spontaneous moments from time to time, but can we set ourselves up to have these breakthroughs on a more regular and reliable basis? How do we structure our art practice in a way where new opportunities for growth and insight are always arising?---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Bec and Michele chat about their recent visit to the National Gallery of Victoria—which was extra special because it's the first time they've met face-to-face! Meeting outside a busy Melbourne city train station was a bit overwhelming for a pair of introverts but after a cup of green tea (for the Australian) and a coffee (for the American), they were able to enjoy the modern art on display and dive into some juicy and surprising conversations.Unfortunately the plan to record on-the-day didn't work out, but the insights were still fresh for this session a few days later. They talk about imperfect art, surprising materials and surrendering to what wants to be made.The book about Agnes Martin: https://www.amazon.com.au/Agnes-Martin-Painting-Writings-Remembrances/dp/1838663096/Some videos with and about Agnes Martin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLF6tWblmGchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVO38tovlsk---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Judgement is a BIG topic for artists: overly critical judgement of ourselves and our artwork, plus the fear of judgement by others, can be major creative blocks to creating our best work and sharing it. BUT is there a place for some level of judgement (also known as discernment), when it comes to assessing our art and whether it's ready to make its debut?This is one of those conversations where we push beyond the obvious first answers, and dig up some fresh perspectives on this topic—about ego, shame, being humble and also not being a ‘helicopter art mum' (ie let your art go live its life!).Also, Bec references this ‘Dear Sugar' advice column: https://therumpus.net/2010/08/19/dear-sugar-the-rumpus-advice-column-48-write-like-a-motherfucker/---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Bec and Michele are revisiting a phrase that's come up in previous episodes—‘low-hanging fruit' (aka ‘easy wins').We are digging into all the ways you can think about this in your art practice and art business:In the studio, how do you make the most of what's right in front of you?Where else do you find easy wins, and how do you make the most of them?When does chasing easy wins become a trap?What does it take to go beyond the early harvests and grow really sustainable, high-value fruit (aka art!).Follow the twists and turns of this analogy and you might be surprised what new ideas and perspectives come to mind.---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---“Are you still doing your art thing?” or “And people want to buy that?” Yep we've all been hit with those questions (often from well-meaning relatives).Michele is juggling a lot of commitments on countdown to a solo exhibition of her new sculptural pieces, while Bec has been working through an extended season of studio development with few finished products to show for her time.Both are happy with the choices they've made, but also feel the social pressure of often not measuring up to usual markers of success—in a culture that tends to value big, quick, material wins. They agree that it can be difficult for others to understand the essentially invisible, solitary and SLOW work of excavating our art. (Or that an artist's life is not just a fantasy land of non-stop play!)So how do you answer those questions? And more importantly, keep committing to your art despite the pressures of everyday demands and not-so-supportive opinions?---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Last episode Michele and Bec talked about those wobble moments when you doubt whether you should be pursuing art at all. This conversation is about a more subtle form of distraction, one that can seem perfectly logical and reasonable in your mind, but can be just as devastating to your goals and progress as an artist.If you're feeling the urge to scrap what you've been working on to do something completely different, or to jump into a new art style that you think will be easier to make or sell, take a pause and listen to this episode for the questions to ask first.---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Are you finding it difficult to get back into the studio, and into the swing of your creative practice, at this time of year? Do niggling doubts start creeping in about whether you've got the desire and drive to keep doing this art thing? Or if you're even on the right path? You're not alone!Michele and Bec are talking about those January wobbles (which also happen at other times of the year too). It's an opportunity to question your commitment, and come out stronger for it—to recognise the real cycles and challenges, and decide how you're going to respond: are you acting as if success is inevitable, or are you jumping ahead to failure? This discussion gets Michele in the mood for yelling, and Bec pulls out some helpful takeaways.---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As of July 2023, we won't be posting new episodes but you can connect with Bec & Michele and continue the conversation via the links below.---Michele and Bec are back, and easing into the new podcasting year chatting about what went well, and not so well, with their plans for the December/January break. One of them had an almost idyllic time, while the other… not so much.They discuss recognising and making room for all the ‘human bits' (emotional and physical ups and downs), unlocking new levels of problem solving to meet bigger challenges, and changing our perception of time.---Let's continue the conversation in OriginArtFind Michele Luminato@micheleluminato & @originart___micheleluminato.comFind Bec Leigh@becleibeclei.comSong credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Michele and Bec reflect a little on 2022, and the power of allowing your whole, real self show up more in everything you do. But revealing more of yourself isn't something that's as easy as flicking a switch, sometimes it's about feeling the pull and following it even though you don't know the what or how. They also chat about the pressures that come with the end of the year, holiday time and worrying that you haven't done enough. How do we navigate this time so we enter 2023 feeling nourished, hopeful and in good relationship with our art? This is episode 45 of the Unearthing Art Podcast and our last for our 2022 season. We are so grateful for everyone who has listened (15k downloads!), messaged us through @unearthingart or dropped us a review on Apple podcasts. We will be back fresh and excited for the next chapter starting 9th January 2023. Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Michele and Bec want to slow down, and go deeper on some of the recurring themes of the Unearthing Art Podcast. A core belief they share is: Great art, impactful art, reveals something of the creator. However this isn't a rule of being an artist (there are no rules!), and certainly artists can have different motivations and go to market with different art offerings. Michele talks about what it looked like when she had different priorities for her art versus now, and suggests that the popular notion of ‘finding our style'—that is, developing the kind of unique art offering that builds collector demand and commands premium prices beyond the mainstream art market—is more about unlocking and revealing pieces of ourselves that we already have within. What does it actually mean to reveal something of ourselves in our art? What are the benefits and possible challenges? What are the symptoms of resisting a deeper revelation that may be just beneath the surface of our current work? Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Origin Art with Michele and Bec (and a group of wonderful artists) is open this week only. If you'd like to hear more about this affordable program that incorporates foundational breakthrough lessons plus ongoing feedback and support… click here (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Michele and Bec recently recorded (for the Origin Art community) a walk-through of Bec's art journal looking at how the inspiration and vision for her art has changed over the last 18 months. They discuss the insights that can flow from this kind of reflection process, particularly getting clearer on what's unique about how you see the world—AND, how you can be tempted to hold back parts of yourself for fear of being seen as too sensitive or too much. Basically, trying to make sure your art is ‘palatable'. But the artistic process is about getting familiar with what we may think of as the ‘too much' (or not enough) parts of ourselves, with all the vulnerability and self-doubt that stirs up. And knowing that it is beneath the surface of ‘palatable' that we will find our most amazing art. It's a messy path of ups and downs, but with patience and an ability to laugh at ourselves, we'll get there! Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) is open for new members this week only—follow the link to find out more. Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Special note: We are dropping this episode earlier than usual because we don't want you to miss out on Michele's free Artist Break Blueprint event which starts tomorrow (Monday 14th in Australia, Sunday in US). There will be 3 live calls through the week (with replays available) digging into how to design powerful breakthroughs for your art practice and business. All free so sign up here (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147523071/7hrdKvSd) for the good stuff. In this episode we discuss an important preparatory step to designing the most fulfilling practice and business for yourself—and that is, getting clear on what you REALLY want. Seems simple enough to know what we want, right? But in truth there are a lot of ways we trip ourselves up: * unwillingness to take the time needed to clarify our vision * waiting for permission, or to feel ready * being afraid to claim what we want, because we don't think it's possible * feeling selfish or undeserving… And sometimes, we can see a number of possible paths and we're just not SURE which one we really, really want. Bec is full of questions and Michele drops some big truths! Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Bec and Michele chat about using the 80/20 rule to hone in on the right art offering and audience that works for what we want to do as artists. Although we might resist the idea of moving from ‘mainstream' to more unique art, because we fear limiting our appeal, there are multiple ways this approach actually benefits artists—particularly those of us wanting to spend more time developing work and sell at a premium level. Michele will be sharing more about how we optimise our art business to play to our unique strengths, as part of the Artist Breakthrough Blueprint coaching event next week (starting 14th November). It's all free, register here (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147523071/7hrdKvSd). The ‘1000 fans' reference that Bec poorly remembered is from here: https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/ Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

A couple of good hours in the studio has totally turned Bec around on how stuck she was feeling two episodes ago… This leads to a conversation about the 80/20 rule also known as the Pareto Principle, which shows how focusing our attention and/or effort on the right area (usually a smaller part of what we're trying to do) can yield much better returns. This rule can be applied in so many different ways—Michele and Bec talk about narrowing our art focus for greater satisfaction, editing work for greater impact, and honing in on the ‘gold zone' when we are in the studio. If you'd like to learn more about working in your ‘gold zone', Michele is running a special free event starting 14th November—a week of coaching on your Artist Breakthrough Blueprint. Click here to read more about the event and register. (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147523071/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

How do we choose, in the moment, what path to take with our art—whether it's the next move on a particular painting or the next creative idea you should explore? In the previous episode Bec and Michele talked about balancing times of open-ended exploration with times when we jump in and commit, and that ultimately there is no single right answer to these kinds of questions. So, moving forward requires a level of trust… in ourselves, in the process, and perhaps in the art itself. Michele reflects on how she built trust in her art process and what that looks like day-to-day in the studio, while Bec has a sudden insight about trust, control and our art rising up to meet us. Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Bec hit a rough patch in the art studio (again!) and came to Michele for advice… If she's not seeing a way forward with an idea should she abandon it and look for something else? This conversation takes some interesting twists and turns as Bec pushes Michele to be more specific about when she prioritises open, exploratory thinking and when she gets more decisive and commits to a specific path with her art. Bec might be looking for a never-fail formula but Michele has a different sort of answer. Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Bec and Michele wade into some philosophical questions: What makes us who we are? Would we be different people given different experiences? Can our own self-certainty shut down the potential for new aspects of ourselves, and our art, to emerge? This conversation is thick with analogies: seeds, gardens, stagnant ponds and flowing rivers… even some babies in bath water! Ultimately, it's about loosening our grip on any fixed ways of thinking and doing because these can tend to hang us up and limit our options. And beyond that, it's about learning to not just manage changes in ourselves and our art, but to actually swim in the flow of change and use it as an accelerator. Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Michele surprises Bec by saying her biggest artist challenges have not come from being a ‘bad' artist, but from being a bored artist… and that procrastination, unfinished work or losing faith half-way through may all be big indicators that boredom is holding you back in the studio. Boredom? Who has the time (and luxury) to be bored when we all feel so damn busy all the time? But that busy-ness means that not only do we miss the signs that boredom may be impacting our art practice, we also rush through the kind of fundamental processes that keep us engaged and keep our work fresh. Lots of thoughts on why this happens, how to recognise such blocks in our creative flow, and what to do about it—including what Michele and Bec have been doing to get new perspectives on their own work. Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

How do you think about where you are headed as an artist? Do you have an idealised vision of your ultimate artist self, and how great it'll be when you get there? Or do you have more of vague frustrated sense that you should be further along, without really knowing where ‘there' is? Bec and Michele take a deep dive, getting both philosophical and practical about how we reconcile our dreams for the future AND the way we want to feel in our day-to-day experience of being an artist. Turns out, it may be less about the destination, and more about: how we feel right now, how we relate to time, and how open we are to enjoying the ride. Also, a game of I Spy might be good for both long car trips and slow days in the art studio ! Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Bec and Michele have more to say on what might be going on beneath the surface when you find yourself avoiding the studio… Following on from the discussion of perfectionism and unreasonable standards in the last episode, this conversation digs deeper into how habitual behaviours and automatic emotional responses can really undermine our best intentions for our art practice. How can we become more aware of these patterns and make better choices to support a truly satisfying and enriching artistic life? Michele has thoughts about Instagram art challenges, Bec may need a TimTam (Australian chocolate biscuit) intervention, and they both offer practical ideas to get out of the stuck and into action. Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Bec and Michele have a few laughs today to bring some lightness to an experience that can feel very heavy—when you find yourself completely frozen, hitting an invisible wall or just unable to make yourself practice the very thing you know you love: making art. What does it feel like growing up as a ‘straight A' or an ‘average C' student, and how do we carry those lessons into our adulthood and art practice? What do we make those external expectations mean about ourselves and what stories do we internalise? (Turns out that life, and being an artist, is a LOT more nuanced than a school report card.) As always, there are a lot of layers to unpack—perfectionism, judgment, values, self-awareness and acknowledgment, gentleness and gradual change. It seems none of these ‘hard feelings' go away completely but neither do we need to torture ourselves with thoughts of our ‘defining suckfulness'. So hey, just be human. Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) We had a tech hiccup with our camera recording for this episode, so you won't be able to see all the laughing happening but you can catch up on our other videos on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Michele and Bec revisit the topic of customising your art process for growth. After the previous discussion, listeners had questions about the artist framework Michele teaches in her Origin Art program—Is it a studio process or something else? What does it mean to have a process that is repeatable and personalised? This is a longer than usual conversation that pushes deeper into how an artist framework can transform both the experience and results of your whole creative work-life—bringing the focus, integration and optimisation that is so important to your professional sustainability and success. Michele shares the three pillars of the Origin Art framework, and the Creative Brief system she's developed to help artists maintain their momentum and progress. It all comes back to growth! Michele and Bec are also excited to announce that Origin Art will be open for new members for a very short time this week—to get all the details and find out if this is a good fit for you, jump on the list here (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) as the invite goes out tomorrow. Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd)—*sign up today *to get your invite to the opening. All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Unfortunately Michele's voice is out of action this week, so we decided to do something a little different. We know many of you like to listen to the podcast when you're in your studio. And we can imagine we're right there with you having a chat, which is great because being an artist is generally pretty solitary work. When it feels hard, we can wonder if we're the only ones who feel that way. Or we can get lost in our thoughts and worries and forget why we love making art and how much power we have within to create something new, right in this moment. So this is Best Bits Vol.1 — a few of our favourite clips from Unearthing Art so far, to remind you you're not alone and encourage all of us to keep going. PLUS listen to the end for a special never-before-heard recording! Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

In conversations and courses around selling art, we hear a lot about marketing strategies that involve using Instagram, our websites and mailing lists to build our audience. But if you are not reaching your art sales goals, or your art business is not as profitable as you would like, the problem may not be just about ‘getting more eyes on my art'. So many of us start making art for creative and heartfelt reasons, so we may have a blind spot when it comes to analysing the ‘product' we are selling. Considering product development in our art business does not mean we have to operate like a factory, it means being aware of all the choices available to us throughout the creative and selling cycle—and making conscious decisions about how we want to bring our art to our collectors. Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

It seems like a lot of us artists are on the hunt to find our one true ‘art style' — an illusive but wonderful thing that we think will solve a lot of problems, and make it easier for us in our studio and in the art market. What is an art style, and how does it really apply to creating and selling our art? Bec's realized the way she thinks about having a recognisable art style has changed drastically over the last year, and that the search for her own art style was probably doing more harm than good. In fact, she thinks she's found something better. Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) will be open soon. Jump on our mailing list to get the invite! Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Something's got Michele hot under the collar and it's a bit awkward to talk about… how do you feel when you see an artist promoting and selling work that seems to be an obvious copy of someone else's art? Is there such a thing as truly original art or are we all just picking up and mixing ideas from the same creative pool? Bec and Michele talk about learning from other artists' techniques, understanding how our art fits within current trends and the market cycle, and how to flex our creative power in such a way that we're always leading. Sign up to be the first to hear when we open Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) for new members in the coming weeks. Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Michele notices Bec's been quiet lately and that's a sure sign that something's bubbling beneath the surface—turns out she's building a whole new creative system! Together they talk about: how to set an objective for art studio breakthroughs; riding the ups and downs of new ideas; the gems you find in creative ‘holes'; turning your perceived obstacles into valuable input; how Bec is building a highly personalised and integrated process; and even more. It's a packed episode. Are you interested in systematising what is unique about you, to build your custom process? Join our waitlist for Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) -- we'll be sending out a special opening invitation in the coming weeks. Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Even in the best of times, most of us have someone in our lives questioning if pursuing an art career is really the best idea, and whether we should get a ‘safer' job. Now, it seems like the news is gloomier every day, and with talk of economic downturns those same people might be asking if it's time to give up the art dream altogether (or at least wait for a ‘better time'). Michele shares from her personal experience in responding to incredibly challenging circumstances and how her choices worked out. What can we do to get better at finding opportunity in such times? Sign up here to get your invitation to Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

How do you get from where you are right now with your art, to the vision you have of what it could be? Michele takes us back to her early ugg, ugg, UGLY art days, when her work was nowhere near where she wanted it to be, and how she went about solving that problem... What can we learn from successful creative companies and how they develop their products? How can we develop our own customised systems for the studio—reliable frameworks that help us focus our efforts, while also continually bubbling up new ideas and perspectives? A process that ensures that, whether what we create today is a failure or a success, we don't stop exploring and we keep growing as artists? Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

A recurring theme of this podcast has been the many benefits of digging into our authentic core—that is, who we are as a person and as an artist—to ground our work and create our most distinctive and valuable art. Sounds great, right? But what we uncover in the process may not always be what we expect, or even what we think we want our art to be about. What happens if what we discover at our core, what we really have within us to say, feels too weird, too dark, too 'different' to share with the world? What if the very thought of sharing these ideas triggers fear—like the fear of standing out too much? Michele and Bec chat it all out. Bec quotes Dennis Palumbo from his book Writing from the Inside Out (https://www.amazon.com.au/Writing-Inside-Out-Transforming-Psychological/dp/0471382663) Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Bec and Michele talk about their early impressions of each other, why Bec decided to go 'all in' on learning from Michele (even though she thought Michele's name was fake!), and how they've continued to surprise each other ever since. Along the way they chat about: feeling stuck and taking a leap to move forward; discovering the creative process that aligns with you; noticing that the deeper principles of creating, connecting and selling from an authentic place show up again and again; integrating the art of business and the business of art. Check out Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

There's nothing like a creative project to accelerate all sorts of personal and artistic growth. Michele and Bec are reflecting on what they've been working on and learnt in the last four months, since the launch of the podcast. However you express your creative energy—in paintings, in writing, in a podcast, in working with other people—there's a potential for it to be a mirror for you, to show you gifts and capabilities you may have overlooked in yourself. And when we can come clean with who we are at the core, and what we stand for, we can create from a very natural place and share those creations at a whole new level—in a way that feels completely in alignment. Find out more about Origin Art with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147515305/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Any artist profile or website about page will usually mention their inspirations—it might be colour or light, or the landscape or special memories. Most artists can list off what inspires them pretty readily, and yet many of us can, at one time or another, still feel lost or ungrounded in the studio, unsure of what we really want to be working on. What are we missing here? Bec and Michele want to change the way we think about inspiration, and understand it as a deep internal source that is entirely specific and unique to each artist. A source that we can ground ourselves in, have trust in, and know will always be available to us. Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Check out Inspiration Room with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509813/7hrdKvSd) Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Ever feel like you have artist's block? Thoughts racing, and you don't know what to do next? This episode is a little more 'behind the scenes' than usual as Michele puts on her coaching cap to talk Bec through an advanced case of studio overthinking aka artist analysis paralysis. What triggers overthinking? Why do we focus on the wrong questions? How is the advice to 'just relax' so unhelpful and true at the same time? Why is 3am a terrible time for problem-solving? Why can't we just flip to the end of the book and read the last two pages? And what's a really practical step that will help us get out of the indecision and doubt spiral? See, it wasn't that painful... Watch the video version of this episode on our YouTube channel (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) Jump on the list to hear more about the upcoming reopening of our artist commumity (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509813/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

We set out as somewhat starry-eyed artists, wanting to make beautiful pieces that anyone and everyone would love to buy... but when we actually start selling art it can be a shock to discover that not all prospective buyers appreciate the value of the work. Michele recalls the icky feeling of having someone at an open studios try to haggle for the lowest price on a piece. And we've all had those requests for an extra 'friends and family' discount that can feel a bit deflating. It can be hurtful and confusing—why don't buyers value our work? This is a complex topic to unpack, but the first step could be understanding that there are actually a wide range of art markets (that is, many different types of art buyers who have different purchasing needs and motivations) available to us. And we may not even realise in which art market we are selling... If you're intrigued by the idea of carving out your own value focused market, add your email to the Inspiration Room waitlist (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509813/7hrdKvSd) to hear more about what's coming up. Have you wondered what we look like when we are recording? Wonder no more! Check out Unearthing Art YouTube (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147514375/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

Continuing the conversation from the previous episode, Bec and Michele are digging deeper into the work of an artist. Why is insight and bravery so essential to navigating the creative process? How do we manage uncertainty, which is at the core of our best work? And is our imagination, one of the great strengths of an artist, helping or hindering us? It seems to come down to a contradiction of sorts—our most authentic artwork arises from having the widest view of our whole life as a creative source, while also having a way to process our ideas in manageable pieces. And yes, Bec does somehow connect deep creation with brain farts. Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Check out Inspiration Room with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509813/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509814/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

There can be a perception (especially from non-artist friends and family!) that making art is more of a fun hobby than 'real' work. And certainly many artists struggle with feeling that wanting uninterrupted time and space for our art is self-indulgent, or even selfish. Michele and Bec talk about the range of work required to generate and develop new creative ideas (it's not just in front of a canvas) and how we need mental, emotional and physical space to sustain a rich and satisfying art practice. Let's validate this important work for ourselves and each other, and claim the space we need! Bec quotes Seth Godin from his book Linchpin (https://www.amazon.com.au/Linchpin-Are-Indispensable-Seth-Godin/dp/1591844096) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Check out Inspiration Room with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509813/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

'Comparison is the thief of joy'—we know comparing ourselves (especially with carefully curated Instagram timelines) is no way to be a happy or productive artist. But why do we compare ourselves? And how does comparison directly limit our creative potential (in ways we perhaps haven't even realised)? Bec and Michele uncover some fresh perspectives on why we look outside of ourselves in this way, what impact this can have on our art, and how we can end up sticking ourselves in creative boxes that just don't fit. 'The Gap' quote from Ira Glass (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHrmKL2XKcE) Bec's quotes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509814/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Check out Inspiration Room with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509813/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

As artists we can spend a long time searching for the special something that will make our art stand out, or our 'artist style'. But what if it's not about finding something new out there? What if it's about shedding all the extras until we are left with only those elements most essential to our art-making? These are the art questions that are unique to us, the artistic enquiries that can happily occupy us for a lifetime. It's not a painless process but the rewards may surprise you! Michele and Bec are continuing the conversation from the last episode... and the onion peeling has now revealed the fire within. (Yes, we keep torturing those analogies!) Looking for support to find your forever art question? Check out Inspiration Room with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509813/7hrdKvSd) Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Find episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) & leave us a message! Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin

After two celebratory announcements, Bec and Michele dig into the very heart of what can make the creative process so painful at times—the reality that when we want to build something new, we often need to deconstruct the old first: destruction before creation.Particularly if you're an artist feeling overwhelmed in the studio, trying to pull together multiple ideas or techniques and finding yourself frozen in analysis paralysis, it may be time to let go of some things to make the art only you can make. It takes some onion peeling (and probably tears too!) but it creates the space for something truly special to emerge. Chat with us on Instagram @unearthingart (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509812/7hrdKvSd) Check out Inspiration Room with Michele & Bec (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509813/7hrdKvSd) All episodes & show notes (https://www.luminatostudio.com/a/2147509811/7hrdKvSd) Song credit: Sunday Groove by Michael Kobrin